Harriet Nielsen

Harriet Nielsen, 89, of North Platte, died Wednesday, June 26, 2019, at Linden Court.

Harriet was born July 27, 1929, to Paul and Amy Seidel at Adams, Nebraska, and grew up in Wahoo. In high school, she was a drum majorette and baton twirler, violinist, and excelled at playing the piano. Harriet attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education.

Harriet moved to Omaha and worked as a secretary for the U.S. District Attorney's Office. In that role, she helped prepare federal condemnation cases along the Republican River and later met attorney and future husband, Jess Nielsen, in another federal case entitled US vs. 92 parcels of land. The couple was united in marriage on October 16, 1954, in the Wahoo Presbyterian Church. They lived in North Platte where Harriet worked in the home and raised two sons.

Harriet was a member of First Presbyterian Church in North Platte, where she taught Sunday School. She was active in PEO and served as secretary for the North Platte Concert Association for many years. She played in Bells handbell choir formed by Clarice McDermand. She enjoyed walking outside, especially hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, where she climbed Longs Peak twice.

Harriet was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Amy Seidel, and sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Gordon Johnson.

She is survived by her husband, Jess, of North Platte; son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Rhonda Nielsen, and granddaughter, Sarah Nielsen, all of Lake Elmo, Minnesota; and son, Brad Nielsen of Rochester Hills, Michigan.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Olsen officiating. The church will be open for visitation an hour prior, and coffee will be served following the service. Private burial will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed online at odeanchapel.com or at the church. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Goodfellow Shoe Fund or the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund. Gifts to the church will be used to preserve the pipe organ.